Assignment major 11
Name:- jadeja Shrutiba kanaksinh
Year:- T.y. B.A(English)
Sem:- 5
Paper' name:- The study of drama
Credit:-4
Professor's Name:- Aamena ma'am
College name:- Maharani shree nadankuvarba mahila arts & commerce college (Nilambag chowk)
• CLASS ASSIGNMENT -1
✨ Part 1: Match the Character to the Emojis
A. 👩🏻💍🌹🕊 → Desdemona (2)
B. 👩🏻🧠🗣🗝⚖ → Emilia (5)
C. 👲🏻🕷️🧠🤥🗡 → Iago (3)
D. 👩🏻✈️💸😢🔪 → Roderigo (6)
E. 👴🏻😠🏛 → Brabantio (7)
F. 👩🏿✈️⚔️💔 → Othello (1)
G. 👑⚖📜 → The Duke (4
✂ Part 2: Who Am I? (Emoji Riddles)
1. 💃💅❤️🔥🪡🧵⬜ → Bianca
2. 👴🔑🏠 → Gratiano
3. 👔📜🛫 → Lodovico
4. ⚔🌊🤕 → Montano
🧠 Part 3: Short Answers
Q1. Why is 🗝 used to describe Emilia?
→ Because she holds the key piece of evidence (the handkerchief) that reveals Iago’s plot.
Q2. What emotion does 💔 suggest about Othello’s journey?
→ It represents heartbreak from betrayal, jealousy, and the tragic loss of love.
Q3. What does 🤥 suggest about Iago’s personality?
→ It shows he is deceitful, manipulative, and a compulsive liar.
🎨 Bonus: Express Cassio in Emojis!
Example: ⚔🍷🙏
Explanation: ⚔ for his role as a soldier/lieutenant, 🍷 for his drunken mistake, and 🙏 for seeking forgiveness and valuing Honor.
*MCQs on Othello by William Shakespeare
What is William Shakespeare often called?
A) The Father of Drama
B) The King of Poets
C) The Bard of Avon
D) The Legend of Language
Answer: C)
In which year was William Shakespeare born?
A) 1544
B) 1564
C) 1584
D) 1604
Answer: B)
How many sonnets did William Shakespeare write?
A) 130
B) 144
C) 154
D) 160
Answer: C)
What type of play is Othello?
A) Comedy
B) Tragedy
C) History
D) Romance
Answer: B)
In what language was the original story of Othello written?
A) French
B) Latin
C) English
D) Italian
Answer: D)
What is the name of the Italian book that inspired Othello?
A)
B) De gli hecatommithi
C) Vita di Otello
D) Racconti Italiani
Answer: B)
When was the first published version of Othello released?
A) 1604
B) 1616
C) 1622
D) 1623
Answer: C)
Which collection included the second version of Othello?
A) Shakespeare’s Folio
B) The First Folio
C) Quarto Collection
D) The Bard’s Anthology
Answer: B)
Which genre does not belong to Shakespeare’s categories of plays?
A) Comedy
B) Epic
C) History
D) Tragedy
Answer: B)
Why is William Shakespeare considered highly influential?
A) He wrote in many different languages
B) He performed in royal courts
C) His works are studied, translated, and performed worldwide
D) He invented the English alphabet
Answer: C)
How many plays did William Shakespeare write (including collaborations)?
A) 29
B) 35
C) 39
D)45
Answer:C)
What is "quarto" ?
A) A large theatre
B) A small book of formate
C) A Shakespearean actor
D) A poetic device
Answer: B)
In which year was Othello first written?
A) 1600
B) 1603–1604
C) 1610
D) 1622
Answer: B)
Why is Roderigo furious with Iago at the beginning of the play?
A) Iago has married Desdemona
B) Iago failed to secure Desdemona for him despite being paid
C) Iago lied about Othello's military victories
D) Iago publicly embarrassed him
Answer: B
Why does Iago claim to hate Othello?
A) Othello insulted Iago's father
B) Othello married Desdemona
C) Othello promoted Cassio over him
D) Othello was born a Moor
Answer: C
What action do Iago and Roderigo take to provoke Brabantio?
A) Kidnap Desdemona
B) Send a forged letter
C) Wake him to tell of Desdemona’s elopement
D) Attack his house
Answer: C
How does Othello defend himself against accusations of using witchcraft?
A) He claims Desdemona cast the first spell
B) He presents witnesses
C) He recounts tales of his life that won her heart
D) He denies marrying her
Answer: C
What ultimately convinces the Duke and Senate of Othello’s honesty?
A) Desdemona’s own testimony
B) Evidence from Cassio
C) Iago’s defense of Othello
D) A letter from Brabantio
Answer: A
What event eliminates the Turkish threat to Cyprus?
A) A Venetian pre-emptive strike
B) A Turkish civil war
C) A severe storm at sea
D) The arrival of Othello’s fleet
Answer: C
What minor gesture between Cassio and Desdemona does Iago use to manipulate Othello?
A) A kiss on the cheek
B) A handshake
C) Sharing a drink
D) Walking together
Answer: B
What advice does Iago give to Roderigo about Cassio during the celebration?
A) Challenge him to a duel
B) Steal from him
C) Start a fight to discredit him
D) Spy on his room
Answer: C
How is Cassio demoted?
A) He fails to deliver a military order
B) He is caught stealing
C) He wounds Montano during a drunken fight
D) Othello overhears him mocking Desdemona
Answer: C
What advice does Iago give Cassio after his demotion?
A) Flee the island
B) Ask Desdemona to speak to Othello
C) Challenge Othello
D) Blame Rodrigo
Answer: B
How does Iago obtain Desdemona’s handkerchief?
A) He steals it from her room
B) Othello gives it to him
C) Emilia picks it up and gives it to him
D) Roderigo finds it and hands it over
Answer: C
What false proof does Iago give Othello of Desdemona's infidelity?
A) A letter Cassio wrote
B) A rumor from Roderigo
C) Cassio wearing Desdemona’s handkerchief
D) A drawing made by Cassio
Answer: C
What effect does jealousy have on Othello’s physical state?
A) He becomes mute
B) He faints
C) He experiences an epileptic seizure
D) He loses his eyesight
Answer: C
Why does Othello strike Desdemona in front of Lodovico?
A) She confesses to an affair
B) She says she still loves Cassio
C) She talks back disrespectfully
D) Lodovico announces Cassio’s promotion
Answer: D
How does Iago use Bianca to reinforce his plot?
A) He bribes her to lie
B) He lets her return the handkerchief Cassio has
C) He kills her as a warning
D) He frames her for poisoning Desdemona
Answer: B
What lie does Iago tell Desdemona to explain Othello’s rage?
A) That Othello has a mental illness
B) That Cassio insulted him
C) That Othello is troubled by political matters
D) That her father is gravely ill
Answer: C
Why does Roderigo agree to attack Cassio?
A) To gain military rank
B) To help Iago win Emilia
C) To stop Othello from leaving with Desdemona
D) To win Desdemona’s love
Answer: D
How does Iago cover his tracks after the attack on Cassio?
A) He frames Roderigo and murders him
B) He blames Bianca
C) He wounds himself and claims innocence
D) He disappears into the night
Answer: A
What claim does Desdemona make before dying?
A) That Cassio is the true villain
B) That she poisoned herself
C) That she committed suicide
D) That she never loved Othello
Answer: C
What final actions close the play?
A) Cassio becomes general, Iago is to be executed, and Lodovico returns to Venice
B) Othello escapes, Desdemona’s funeral is planned
C) Bianca inherits Othello’s house
D) Emilia survives and becomes a hero
Answer: A
What causes Othello to lose control of his actions?
A) Fear of war
B) Trust in Iago
C) Overconfidence
D) Lack of education
Answer: B
What does Desdemona’s loyalty represent in the play?
A) Foolishness
B) Political power
C) True love and innocence
D) Greed
Answer: C
How does Iago manipulate Othello’s military mindset?
A) Uses logic
B) Encourages peace
C) Turns love into a battle
D) Blames Cassio
Answer: C
How does Iago use the theme of “Appearance vs. Reality”?
A) He confesses all early
B) He shows his hatred openly
C) He pretends to be honest
D) He tells only truth
Answer: C
What object becomes a symbol of betrayal for Othello?
A) Sword
B) Necklace
C) Letter
D) Handkerchief
Answer: D
Why is Othello’s idea of justice flawed?
A) He waits too long
B) He uses logic only
C) He acts on anger, not truth
D) He forgives too easily
Answer: C
What does the play teach about judging people by looks?
A) Looks never lie
B) Trust only yourself
C) Outer appearance can deceive
D) Reality is always clear
Answer: C
Who originally gave the handkerchief to Othello’s mother?
A) A priest
B) A soldier
C) An Egyptian sorcerer
D) A king
Answer: C
How does Iago use the handkerchief in his plan?
A) He sells it
B) He drops it in the sea
C) He plants it with Cassio
D) He gives it to Desdemona
Answer: C
What animal is Othello compared to in the play?
A) Bear
B) Horse
C) Snake
D) Dog
Answer:B
What does animal language in the play mostly represent?
A) Humor
B) Military strategy
C) Prejudice and racism
D) Othello’s power
Answer: C
What does the symbolic use of animals reveal about Iago’s language?
A) It is poetic and beautiful
B) It reflects his love for nature
C) It shows his use of dehumanizing insults
D) It has no real meaning
Answer: C
What happens to the meaning of the handkerchief by the end of the play?
A) It is forgotten
B) It becomes magical
C) It symbolizes lies and jealousy
D) It is returned to Othello
Answer: C
Why does Iago hate Othello?
A) Othello insulted him
B) Othello married Desdemona
C) Othello didn’t promote him
D) Othello arrested him
Answer: C
Who is the "Moor of Venice"?
A) Cassio
B) Iago
C) Othello
D) Roderigo
Answer: C
What kind of person is Desdemona?
A) Proud and selfish
B) Kind and loyal
C) Brave but dishonest
D) Clever and suspicious
Answer: B
What does Iago do throughout the play?
A) Helps Othello and Desdemona
B) Spreads truth and peace
C) Tricks people and causes destruction
D) Marries Desdemona
Answer: C
Who is Emilia?
A) Desdemona’s sister
B) Cassio’s wife
C) Iago’s wife and Desdemona’s maid
D) The Duke’s daughter
Answer: C
What is Cassio’s main problem in the play?
A) He is secretly evil
B) He loses his job after a fight
C) He betrays Othello
D) He falls in love with Emilia
Answer: B
What does Roderigo want most?
A) To be a soldier
B) To marry Emilia
C) To become governor
D) To win Desdemona’s love
Answer: D
Who is Bianca in the play?
A) Othello’s cousin
B) A prostitute who loves Cassio
C) Desdemona’s maid
D) Iago’s second wife
Answer: B
What is Brabantio’s reaction to Desdemona’s marriage?
A) He celebrates
B) He forgives quickly
C) He is angry and shocked
D) He helps Othello
Answer: C
What role does Lodovico play at the end of the play?
A) He kills Iago
B) He gives Othello’s property to Graziano
C) He becomes governor
D) He marries Desdemona
Answer: B
HOME ASSIGNMENT
About author
Introduction
Othello is a play written by William Shakespeare. It is a tragedy, which means it tells a sad and serious story. Shakespeare wrote it in the years 1603–1604, and it was first published in 1622 in a small book called a "quarto." This version was based on a copy of Shakespeare’s original writing.
A second version of the play was published in 1623 in a collection of Shakespeare’s works called the First Folio. This version seems to have been revised by Shakespearehimself. It is almost the same as the earlier version but has some small changes in Words and phrases, as if Shakespeare was rethinking and rewriting it as he went. The story of Othello is based on a tale from an Italian book called De gli Hecatommithi by Giambattista Giraldi, written in 1565. Shakespeare likely read the story in its original Italian, even though it was also available in French. At that time, it had not been translated into English.
Act I: The Conflict Begins
The play opens in Venice with a heated discussion between Roderigo, a wealthy man, and Iago, a soldier. Roderigo has been paying Iago to help him win Desdemona’s love. Roderigo is heartbroken because Desdemona, the woman he loves, has married Othello, a respected general. Meanwhile, Iago reveals his hatred for Othello because he was passed over for a promotion, which was given to Michael Cassio, a less experienced soldier. To take revenge, Iago devises a plan to manipulate those around him. Iago and Roderigo inform Desdemona's father, Brabantio, about her secret marriage to Othello, hoping to create chaos. Brabantio accuses Othello of using magic to win Desdemona’s love, but Othello defends himself, explaining that their love is genuine. The Duke of Venice sides with Othello, and Desdemona confirms her love for him.
Act II: Manipulation in Cyprus
The scene shifts to Cyprus, where Othello is sent to defend the island against the Turks.(Island from the Turks" means protecting the island of Cyprus from an attack by the Turks. In the play Othello, the Ottoman Turks are the enemies planning to invade Cyprus, and Othello is sent there to defend it.)The Turkish fleet (Fleet"means a group of ships.)is destroyed in a storm(A strong storm sinks the Turkish ships, so they can’t attack Cyprus.), but Iago continues his scheme. During a celebration,That night, Iago gets Cassio drunk and incites a fight between him and Roderigo. When Cassio injures Montano ,Othello, disappointed in Cassio, strips him of his position. Iago advises Cassio to seek Desdemona’s help in restoring his reputation, planting the seeds of suspicion. Iago begins to hint to Othello that Desdemona’s kindness toward Cassio might be more than friendship.
Act III: Seeds of Jealousy
Iago tricks Othello by saying that Desdemona might be cheating on him. He uses her kindness to Cassio as fake “proof.” Iago takes Desdemona’s special handkerchief and puts it in Cassio’s room to make it look like she gave it to him. Othello, jealous and upset, asks for proof. Iago lies and says it’s true. Othello, heartbroken and angry, plans to take revenge.
Act IV: The Tragic Plan Unfolds
Othello’s jealousy consumes him. He confronts Desdemona, who continues to deny any wrongdoing. Othello misinterprets her innocence as further evidence of her guilt. Meanwhile, Iago manipulates Roderigo into trying to kill Cassio, hoping to eliminate all obstacles. Roderigo attacks Cassio but fails, and Iago wounds Cassio to make it look like he was trying to help. Othello, still convinced of Desdemona’s betrayal, plans to kill her.
Act V: The Tragic Climax
In their bedroom, Othello accuses Desdemona of cheating one final time. Despite her pleas and protests of innocence, Othello smothers her. Emilia, Iago’s wife and Desdemona’s maid, enters and exposes Iago’s lies. She reveals that Iago stole the handkerchief and used it to frame Desdemona. Realizing the truth, Othello is overcome with grief and guilt. He admits his crime, bids farewell, and takes his own life. Iago is arrested but remains silent about his motives.
Symbols
In old European times, during the medieval and Renaissance periods, people used handkerchiefs as a symbol of love. It was a sweet tradition — a lady would drop her handkerchief on purpose, and a knight or man she liked would pick it up. If he kept it, it showed he accepted her love. This small cloth became a symbol of affection an respect between them.
In Shakespeare’s play Othello, the same idea is used. Othello gives a special handkerchief to Desdemona as a gift. It is not just any cloth — it is a symbol of their love, trust, and connection. Othello believes that as long as Desdemona keeps the handkerchief, their love will stay strong.
But this handkerchief has a mysterious background. It originally belonged to an Egyptian sorcerer (a magical woman), who gave it to Othello’s mother. His mother passed it on to Othello, and he later gave it to Desdemona. So, the handkerchief is full of meaning — love, family, and even a bit of magic.
Essay
A dolls house
- Henrik Ibsen
About author
Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906) was a Norwegian playwright, often called the “Father of Modern Drama.” Born in Skien, Norway, he grew up in a family that faced financial struggles, which shaped his critical outlook on society. Ibsen rejected romantic traditions and introduced realism in theatre, focusing on ordinary life, social issues, and individual struggles.
His famous plays include A Doll’s House (1879), Ghosts (1881), An Enemy of the People (1882), and Hedda Gabler (1890). His works challenged conventional ideas about marriage, morality, and power, often creating controversy.
Ibsen’s plays influenced modern drama worldwide, inspiring later playwrights. He died in Oslo, Norway, in 1906, leaving behind a lasting legacy as one of the greatest dramatists in history.
Introduction
A Doll’s House is a three-act play written by Henrik Ibsen in 1879. It is one of the most important works of modern drama and a landmark in the history of theatre. The play tells the story of Nora Helmer, who at first appears to be a dutiful wife and mother, but gradually realizes that her marriage is built on control and inequality rather than love and respect.
Through this drama, Ibsen challenges the traditional roles of women in 19th-century society and highlights the need for individual freedom, self-respect, and equality in marriage. When Nora decides to leave her husband and children to find her own identity, it shocked contemporary audiences but also established the play as a bold and revolutionary work.
Summary
Henrik Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House (1879) tells the story of Nora Helmer, a seemingly happy wife and mother married to Torvald Helmer, a bank manager. Years earlier, Nora secretly borrowed money by forging her father’s signature to save Torvald’s life. She has been repaying the debt in secret.
Her secret is threatened when Nils Krogstad, a dismissed bank clerk, blackmails her to keep his job. Nora desperately tries to protect her husband, but when Torvald discovers the truth, he reacts with anger and worry about his own reputation instead of appreciating her sacrifice.
This shocks Nora into realizing that her marriage is built on control and appearances, not love or equality. In the end, she makes the bold decision to leave Torvald and her children to discover her own identity and independence.
Theme
1. Gender Roles and Marriage
The play exposes how women were treated as possessions or “dolls” within the household. Nora’s role as a submissive wife reflects society’s expectation that women should obey men and sacrifice their independence.
2. Individual Freedom and Identity
Nora’s journey is about self-discovery. By the end, she realizes she must leave her family to gain independence and understand who she truly is.
3. Appearance vs. Reality
On the surface, the Helmers’ marriage seems happy and respectable, but in reality it is built on lies, control, and inequality.
4. Power and Control
Torvald dominates Nora by treating her like a child. The play shows how power imbalances destroy true love and respect in relationships.
5. Society and Morality
Ibsen criticizes a society that values reputation and social approval more than honesty and individual happiness.
Conclusion
Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House is more than just a story about Nora and Torvald—it is a powerful critique of social norms, gender inequality, and the false foundations of marriage in the 19th century. Nora’s final decision to leave her family was revolutionary for its time, symbolizing the need for individual freedom, equality, and self-respect. The play ends not with reconciliation, but with a call for change, making it one of the most influential works in modern drama. Its message about independence and human dignity continues to remain relevant even today.
📚 References
Shakespeare, William. Othello. Oxford University Press, 2006.
SparkNotes. “Othello.” https://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/othello
Ibsen, Henrik. A Doll’s House. Methuen Drama, 1964.
SparkNotes. “A Doll’s House.” https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/dollhouse
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